Man Sentenced to 25 Years For Vernon Bank Robbery

VERNON, CT — A man arrested for an armed hold-up at a Vernon bank in June 2015 has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for first-degree robbery and using a gun in that crime, judicial system records indicate.

Jeffrey Wright, 47, of 28 Elm St. in the Rockville Section of Vernon, was sentenced on Thursday, according to court records. He was given a 20-year sentence for the robbery and another five for using the gun, according to court records.

On June 26 at 5:37 p.m., Vernon Police received an emergency call reporting an armed robbery at the People’s United Bank branch located inside the Stop and Shop Supermarket at 50 Windsorville Rd.

The caller said that a lone black male entered the bank with a handgun and demanded money, according to police records.

The robber fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash and climbed into a vehicle that was waiting in front of the store, according to police records.

A witness gave police the license plate of the vehicle. This vehicle was registered to Charles Wright, his father, who was 69 at the time, according to police records.

Officers went to the Elm Street address that was listed for the vehicle and as they pulled up, a male, later identified as Jeffrey Wright, came out of the apartment, but shut the door when he saw officers, according to police records. He then opened the door and started walking away from the officer, according to police records.

As the officer began questioning him, Jeffrey Wright ran away, according to police records.. He went to a local pharmacy, demanded car keys from the employees and then punched one of them when the employees did not turn over keys, according to police records.

Jeffrey Wright then fled the pharmacy on foot and was apprehended by officers, according to police records.

He was found to be in possession of a large amount of money, consistent with the amount that had just been stolen from the bank, according to police records.

Charles Wright was initially charged but his case was dismissed after further investigation, Vernon police spokesman Lt. William Meier said Friday.

Photo Credit: Vernon police